Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for my many blessings...good health and a roof over my head!  Although missing my Laura, enjoying the week off and time with family and friends.  Just about to start the massive Thanksgiving food fest.  Good thing I love to cook and be in the kitchen.  So what is on the menu?  Will be preparing a few of the regulars-dressing recipe passed down three generations, special cranberry sauce and traditional pumpkin pie.  New this time around chocolate caramel nutella fudge & bitter chocolate cherry biscotti. Working on perfecting a crepe recipe and planning a few creative turkey leftover meals.  Definitely in my element!  If only a house elf lived with me to clean the kitchen and do all the dirty dishes.  

Happy Thanksgiving all!  Gobble gobble!

Fall-Finally Here!

Fall, my favorite time of the year...cool crisp days, yummy baked goods and finally a respite from the Texas heat!  

Autumn also ushers in a constant reminder that not all things last, and so the cycle of nature continues. But for the moment, we rejoice in the bounty of the season and all things orange!  Yeah for pumpkins and shorter days and windows open.  Thank you, mother nature, for the marvelous display of fall color.

 

"Oh, What A Tangled Web We Weave...

 

 

...When first we practice to deceive."  Sir Walter Scott

from the epic poem, Marmion published in 1808

As it is now raining outside, today seemed like a perfect day to clean out the cobwebs, both literally and figuratively. 

 

Let's see...it is noon now and I have completed my run, sipped coffee & caught up with current world events (a favorite Sunday pastime), cleaned the kitchen, folded laundry, and finally found time to remove the curious cobwebs which mysteriously appear underneath my lower kitchen cabinets.  Also disturbed a few spiders while doing so.  Didn't have the heart to eliminate them, so these little guys have been gently relocated to the great outdoors.  Now feeling guilty as the temperature has dramatically dropped and my friends may not be used to outdoor living.  After all, they enjoyed the creature comforts of controlled climate and had access to unlimited food sources.  Should I have spared them a prolonged pain & suffering?

 

For some reason, the little spiders I released into the wild this morning made me think of the 'big guy' I literally ran into while visiting Cains, Australia in July of 2005.  For years, I have obsessed over its scientific identification.  Besides being very large, as in about the length of a dollar bill, I know little about this spider--or do I?  Over the years, I have obsessed about its true identity.  Perused several arachnid reference books and still am at a total loss as to its genius and species. 

 

In reviewing this photo which was taken about 2 feet away (with a very unsteady hand mind you--remember this thing is BIG and I don't know if it is poisonous), I made some interesting observations:

 

1)  Beauty is present in everything.

2)  Nature provides us with complex patterns of symmetry. 

3)  Looks can be deceiving as what appears to be delicate & fragile can actually be strong & resilient. 

 

In contrast with the torn webbing, I simply love the coloration and symmetrical banding on the legs.  After seven years of trying to associate scientific meaning and a name to this spider, I am hereby officially letting it go.  Instead, I am content with having met this creature.  I am thankful for the lessons this 'big guy' has taught me.  Nature does not lie.  She speaks only truth.  It is not necessary to associate a label to every fact.  Instead, accept the wholeness of the unknown and relish in having the privilege to participate in such an experience. 

 

Oh, and I thought if I posted this pic on the web, maybe some kind soul out there just might be knowledgeable enough to correctly identify my 'big guy'. 

November Resolutions-Happy New Year!

Many blessings to count at the start of a new year...good health, family, & friends...for these gifts I am eternally grateful.  Tried something a little different this time around and initiated 'resolutions' in November, hoping to create 'habits' that will stick prior to the dreaded month of January.

 Why is it that this month is so bleak for me?!  As long as I can remember, January has been my least favorite month.  As an elementary student, I can recall the crushing blow of school resuming, inevitable indoor recess due to rainy weather, and Spring Break seeming so far away.  The only bright spot was my birthday, although it is only a few weeks after Christmas--not ideal as a child.   

I love beginnings and fresh starts so why is January not high on my list?  Hmm...I am thinking it has something to do with the fact my resolutions usually have dissipated by month's end.  Not this time!  I am determined to not let the January blues win! 

Let's see...Christmas decorations are still up (had great intentions to pack everything away by January 5th, but that was before catching the flu and being out of commission for basically three weeks).  Thank you notes still not finished, closets waiting to be organized...life goes on!  On the plus side, all New Year's resolutions still upheld.  Running a minimum of four times a week--check!  Signed up for first 5K--check!  Completed professional and personal reading list for the month of January--check!  Carved out time to focus on the moment--check...well, maybe a check minus.  Work initiated on the big vegetable garden project--check!  Keeping blog updated--check! 

Happy New Year to all, even if it is February 2nd!